Zimmermann



Sept. 11, 1956 w, ZIMMERMANN Re. 24,211

COOLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 16, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [18 (I5C 1 i I :35 f & 19m .194,

x r I I I 16 fliy- 4 INVENTOR Wilhelm Zimmerman/1 Sept. 11, 1956 w.ZIMMERMANN Re. 24,211

COOLING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 16. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEYS United States Patent 1 24,211 COOLING APPARATUS WilhelmZirnmermann, Frankfurt, Germany, assignor to Metallgesellsch'aftAktiengesellschaft, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, a corporation of GermanyOriginal No. 2,669,032, dated February 16, 1954, derial No. 337,100,February 16, 1953. Application for reissue February 10, 1956, Serial No.564,847

Claims priority, application Germany March 29, 1952 8 Claims. (CL34-174) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets 1 appears in the originalpatent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printedin italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to cooling apparatus. In particular, theinvention is directed to an apparatus for cooling hot granular materialsuch as might be received from a sintering apparatus.

Annular containers for cooling hot agglomerated material are known inthe form of an annular chamber having a V-shaped cross-section intowhich the material is placed at the top and removed from the bottom.Cooling air is passed upwardly through the material. Such an apparatusis not entirely satisfactory as the cooling air cannot pass easilythrough the dense agglomerated material. This is particularly true whenthe material is piled to a height of two meters or more, in the chamber.An object of the instant invention is to produce an apparatus in whichcooling air can be drawn quickly and effectively through hotagglomerated material regardless of the height to which the material ispiled. A further object of the invention is to produce an apparatuswhich has an adequate capacity for cooling hot agglomerated material ata relatively rapid rate.

In general, these objects are accomplished by constructing a coolingchamber in the form of a ring or annulus, and constructing the innercircumference of the ring in the form of a louvered, Venetianblind-like, inclined wall. Spaced from this wall, and adjacent the outercircumference of the ring are a plurality of rather closely spaced gratebars forming the other side wall of the chamber. Hinged lids on top ofthe ring permit the introduction of hot agglomerated material, whilecorresponding hinged covers on the bottom of the ring permit the dumpingof the cool material. The ring is adapted to be rotated about itsvertical axis so that material received from a hopper is carried underone or more suction towers which draw air through the louvered wall, thehot material, and grate bars. The louvered wall and grate bars areinclined, and are so spaced that even though the material is piled asmuch as two meters high, it is much less thick, and the air equallypasses through a thinner layer than in the priortype apparatus. Meansare provided for automatically opening the lids for receiving a charge,and for automatically dropping the bottoms for dumping the material asthe apparatus is revolved.

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic crosss-ectional view through a portion of theapparatus at the feed hopper;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the apparatus at a suctiontower, and

The inner circumference of the apparatus is composed of an air perviousmember such as a louvered Venetian blind-like member 14 supported onframe 16, louvered member 14 being inclined toward the vertical axis ofthe housing. As indicated in Figure 4, the slats forming the louvers arein sections so as to conform with the curvature of the apparatus. Spacedfrom member 14 toward the outer circumference of the housing are aplurality of bars 18 slightly spaced from each other to form a grate,these bars likewise being inclined. Member 14 and bars 18 are downwardlydivergent with respect to each other to form a downwardly widenedcooling chamber. The apparatus has an overall frame 19, which isextended by beams 19a to support the bottom of the cooling chamber, andbars 18. The outer shell of housing 10 is composed of a wall 20, whichtogether with the inner wall 22 constitutes an annular flue. On the topof the ring-like housing 10 are a plurality of lids 24, these lids beingin the form of sectors and extending continuously around the top ofhousing 10. The lids are hinged at 26 to the apparatus frame and areextended into cam followers 28 which are guided by a cam roller 30.

The bottom of the chamber is composed of a plurality of plates 32attached at their upper edges by hinges 34 to the apparatus frame.Rollers 33 secured to bottoms 32 bear against a rail 33a to hold thebottoms closed, except at the point of dumping cooled material. Thesebottom plates correspond in number and position to lids 24.

The apparatus is adapted to be rotated successively beneath hopper 40and suction chimneys or towers 42, all of which are supported by anindependent framing not shown. In order to close off the upper outlet ofthe flue formed beneath walls 20 and 22 in between the towers, ahorizontal shielding 45 extends between the towers. This circularsuction space is also substantially sealed from the hopper zone anddumping zones, indicated by the dotted lines 44 and 44a, respectively,in Figure l, by the material in the cooling chamber.

The [louvered] air pervious member 14 is such as to provide the greatestnumber possible openings for the passage of air, while at the same timepreventing the agglomerate from falling through the openings. Therefore,the width of the slats is approximately equal to the openings betweenthe various blades, and these openings are directed slightly downwardlyto prevent the material from falling through. The passage of air throughthe cooling chamber is assisted by suction fans 49 placed in the suctiontowers 42. As the flue passes beneath each suction tower, an air-tightseal is elfected by the plates 46, hanging down from the tower andengaging flanges 48 on the top edge of the flue.

In operation, hot agglomerate material is dumped into the chamber, thematerial resting on air pervious o-r louvered member 14 and beingconfined by grate bars 18, the bottom door being held closed by thewheel 33 bearing on rail 33a. The lid is held open by cam follower 28,note Figure 2. As the housing 10 revolves clockwise, note Figure l, thelids drop closed, and the charge passes beneath the first suction tower42, air being drawn transversely through the material to cool it. Eachsuccessive lid is thus opened and closed as it passes beneath hopper 40.At the end of the cycle, as the apparatus turns by dumping zone at 442.,the wheel 33 leaves the track 33a and the bottom, being hinged at itstop edge, drops open to dump the charge into a truck, or a belt conveyorof some sort. The bottom is closed by re-engaging rail 33a before a newcharge is received from the hopper.

The apparatus is of simple rugged construction, and very effective inthe cooling of large volumes of hot agglomerate material.

Having now described the means by which the objects of the invention areobtained, I claim:

1. An apparatus for cooling hot agglomerated material comprising anannular housing, means mounting said housing for rotation about itsvertical axis, a louvered inclined member forming the innercircumferential Wall of said housing, inclined grate bars spaced fromsaid louvered member to form a cooling chamber therebetween, a pluralityof inclined plates hinged at their upper edges to said housing andforming the bottom of said chamber, means for feeding hot material intothe top of said chamber, and means for holding said bottom plates closedduring the coo-ling of said material and for releasing said plates toswing open on their hinged edges to dump cooled material.

[2. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of lidshinged to said housing on top of said chamber, and means for liftingsaid lids when hot material is fed to said chamber] [3. An apparatus asin claim 2 further comprising an annular flue mounted above said gratebars, and at least one suction tower mounted above said flue] [4. Anapparatus as in claim 3 further comprising a suction fan in said towerfor drawing air through said louvered member and the hot material insaid chamber into said tower.]

[5. An apparatus as in claim 4, said means for holding said bottomplates comprising a rail surrounding said housing adjacent said bottomplates except at the dumping zone, and rollers mounted on said bottomplates and engaged with said rail.]

[6. An apparatus as in claim 5, said louvered member comprising aVenetian blind like element having slats of a width approximatelyequalling the opening between adjacent slats] 7. An apparatus forcooling hot agglomerated material comprising an annular housing, meansmounting said housing for rotation about its vertical axis, a louveredinclined member forming the inner circumferential wall of said housing,inclined grate bars spaced from said louvered member to form a coolingchamber therebetween, a plurality of plates hinged to said housing andforming the bottom of said chamber, means for feeding hot material intothe top of said chamber, and means for holding said bottom plates closedduring the cooling of said material and for releasing said plates toswing open on their hinges to dump cooled material.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7, said louvered member and grate bars beingdivergent with respect to each other and forming a downwardly widenedcooling chamber.

9. An apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising a plurality of lidshinged to said housing on top of said chamber, and means for liftingsaid lids when hot material is fed to said chamber.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising an annular fluemounted above said grate bars, and at least one suction tower mountedabove said flue.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising a suction fan in saidtower for drawing air through said louvered member and the hot materialin said chamber into said tower.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11, said means for holding said bottomplates comprising a rail surrounding said housing adjacent said bottomplates except at the dumping zone, and rollers mounted on said bottomplates and engaged with said rail.

13. An apparatus as in claim 7, said louvered member comprising aVenetian blind like element having slats of a width approximatelyequalling the opening between adjacent slats.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,558,119 Sherban Oct. 20, 1925 2,256,017 CurranSept. 16, 1941 2,641,064 Foner June 9, 1953 2,669,032 Zimmermann Feb.16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 640,773 Germany Jan. 12, 1937

